The New York Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx at Barclays Center on Tuesday night in a thrilling rematch of the 2024 <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/wnba/”>WNBA Finals. With under a minute remaining and the Lynx trailing by just four points, Sabrina Ionescu sealed the win by executing a rare four-point play with 33.9 seconds left on the clock.
Ionescu’s Deep Three and Flagrant Foul Decision
Ionescu launched a deep three-pointer over Minnesota defender Maria Kliundikova, landing on Kliundikova’s foot as she came down. The arena erupted as referees paused to review the play and ultimately ruled that Kliundikova had stepped into Ionescu’s landing zone, resulting in a flagrant foul.
SABRINA IONESCU CAN’T BE STOPPED ð¤She scores the and-1 three pointer to put the @nyliberty up 7 with 33 seconds to go! MIN-NYL | League Pass pic.twitter.com/GUdKSshY4lâ WNBA (@WNBA) August 20, 2025
While Ionescu missed the initial free throw, the four-point play extended the Liberty’s lead significantly. Her impact was felt immediately afterwards as she delivered an assist in the final moments to help close out the game.
Ionescu’s Post-Game Celebration Channels Stephen Curry
When asked about the moment after the game, Ionescu responded with a nod to NBA star Stephen Curry’s famous celebration, simply saying “night night” into the microphone before exiting to another standing ovation from fans. She finished the game with 17 points and 11 assists, moving the Liberty within half a game of second place in the WNBA standings.
Implications for the Liberty’s Season Standings
This victory brings the Liberty closer to the top playoff spots, heightening anticipation for the remainder of the season. With Ionescu’s clutch performance and leadership, the team appears poised to challenge for higher rankings as the competition intensifies.